Regulating the operation of gas producers



2 Sheets-Sheet l \NVENTOR ATT YS.

C A.A.E5AZJLLE GAS PRODUCER 645 OUTLET Feb. 13, 1945. c. A. A. BAZILLE REGULATING THE OPERATION OF GAS PRODUCERS Filed March 20, 1939 Feb. 13, 1945. c. A. A. BAZILLE REGULATING THE OPERATION.OF GAS PRODUCERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1959 m .NH 7 H Q EN Q .\.m. 2: Nb 9 QM Nw g 6 U Qw INVENTOR} (1AA. BA 2 ILLE Patented Feb. 13, 1945 v PRODUCERS H Cyrille "Alfred Alexis Bazille, G'ennevilliers,

France dian vested in the Alien Property "(Ju'sto- Application .March 20, 193.9, .Serial;N0.-26-3,042

, vInFrance April '6, 1938 7 "Claims.

In the utilisation of gas producers with a view to producing water gas .it :is usual :to proceed, preferably automatically, by regular cycles each comprising two successive phases: 'ai-r blowing and iinj action of 'water vapour.

The first phase has the effect of bringinga ,mass of coke contained in the gas producer to the temperature most suitable :ior ensuring the decomposition of the water :vapour in-jected during the second phase, ,andconsequently the idesired production (of watch-gas.

l-Ioweventhe reaction of the water yapourxon .the coke is endothermic, so that during the course of the vapour injection phase the temperature of the coke constantly decreases; as the reaction is reversible, it becomes more complete inproportion as the temperature .is .iincreased; -conse- .quently, the proportion of decomposed \vapour'clecreases also :from the beginning to the end of the injection phase. Y v a Moreover, the -rapidity of decomposition of the water vapour depends upon numerous .other factors: cooling r the mass-of coke byconduct-ivity tionary gaseous film,

of the walls :of theigasproduoer or bythecarry- .ing awayof heat :by the non-decomposed vapour, the length gm: timethe water vapour and the incandescent coke are in contact with, one another, the speedof displacement of the water vapour and of the gases .in the interstices of the mass 'ofcoke, and relative proportions of the-constituents of the mixture of water vapourand gas. p

.In order to obtain optimum results, the most favourable duration ionone complete cycle, for example three minutes, and the necessary distribution of thetwo phases, air blowing and injection of vapour, in the cycle,,for example one a minute of blowing iortwo minutes 1of injection;

have hitherto been determined for each gas producer ,by calculation or by numerous tests.

' Heretoforathe rate oith'e injection of water vapour has been maintained constant from the beginning untilgthe end of the injection phase Iregardless .of {the time sequence adopted. v

[The object of the ,present invention .issto improve the working of a gasproducer by ensuring, during the periods-of the: vapour injection, .a rate of delivery whichdiminishes in accordance with apredetermined lawand iidesired with successive pulsations. I i

In all cases, the mean vapour delivery at the beginning of the injection phase is much greater than the delivery at the end. v y H This process of regulating theliniection of vapour "improves the conditions of operation of the gas "producer, because for the same weight of in- 35.01 a greater quantity of phra m;

jectedvapounthere is obtained :"either a richer gas per cycle, that vis to say a substantial increase in the production.

The possibility of one or morepulsations in the law of variation-of the delivery has the effect of creating each time z-a'sudden but transient increase in the velocity of flow of the gases, and consequently of causing the breakage of the stawhich, as experience has shown, tends to form about each piece of coke and formsanobstacle to the decompositionof the water vapour. g I The regulating process-according to the inventionimay be.automaticallyefiected:by means 10f a closing member, arranged onthe steam delivery conduit and mechanically actuated in such a manner that its movable part leaves free an inlet area which decreases during the course of the injection phase in accordance with :a predetermined law.

Ina first embodiment, such a closing device may be constituted byra fixed diaphragm having suitable apertures against which there is applied a movable diaphragm, also apertured, which rotates continuously;-the inlet (area is constituted by those parts @0f the apertures of the two :dia- .phragms which :lie in coincident positions.

In a modification, the closing -member is constituted by a form of profiled valve having :an axial lift and controlled -by a 'continuouslyactuated -.cam of suitable pro-file.

Suitable safety systems are combined with these devices for the purpose of stopping the operation of "the gas rproducer if the closing member isiaccidentallyheldlfast.

The inventionis illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figurel .is arlongitudinal :section through a first constructional form of the regulating sarrangement according to the invention;

Figure 2isafront yiewof the fixeddiaphragm;

Figure .3 is .a .front view of the movable .dia-

Figure 4 ,is a view of .a safety member of the arrangement;

Figure -5is.a diagrammatic representation .of a

I gas .13I!0dl1Cer-iShOWing the control valve of the present invention .in-thev team inlet-conduittherefor. v

Figure 6 is .a longitudinal section through a modification of the arrangement;

Figure 7 .is a cross-section alon the lineiVII-t-VII of Figure .6; I

Figure 8 is the graph representing the inlet area during the course of the operation of this modification.

The arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 4 comprises an inlet branch I I and an outlet branch I2 intended to be interposed in the conduit delivering the vapour to the gas producer as shown in Figure 5, wherein the gas producer is indicated at P, a conventional valve at V and a motor M for opening and closing the valve V is shown as also driving the sprocket hereinafter de scribed.

The two branches are connected by screws I3 and at the joint the inlet branch ll contains a fixed diaphragm I4 covered by a diaphragm-supporting plate I5. This plate, which is secured by screws I6, plays a purely mechanical part and serves to reinforce the diaphragm 14, which is apertured movable diaphragm I9 (Figure 3) comprising an arcuate aperture 2| of the same gen.- eral form as the aperture I! of the fixed diaphragm I4 but having a smaller angular extent than that 'of th fixed diaphragm. In the example shown, the aperture II extends over about of a circumference, while the aperture 2I of the movable diaphragm extends only over half of a circumference.

The movable diaphragm I1 is carried on the extremity of a rOd 22 which extends by means of a stufling box 23 through the wall of the inlet branch II The rod 22, which is retained by a ball thrust bearing 24, carrie at its outer extremity a sprocket wheel 25 over which there passes a transmission chain extending from a suitable motor M, owing to which the movable diaphragm I9 effects at constant speed one complete revolution per cycle of operation of the gas producer.

In order to ensure the safety of the installation there is provided on the movable diaphragm I9 a toothed rim 26 in engagement with a'bevel wheel 21, the wall of the branch II at right angles and through a stufiing box 30 and carries at its outer end a pinion 29 in engagement with a second pinion 49 driving a shaft 3| on which a plate 33 is rigidly mounted.

On the shaft 3| is mounted, so as to turn loosely thereon. another plate 32 connected to a toothed wheel 34 over which there passes a chain (not shown) actuated by the general driving member of the arrangement, that is, independently of the diaphragm l9, at a speed of one complete revolution per cycle of operation of the gas producer.

The plate 32 comprises on its peripher a metal ring 35 electrically insulated, but connected nevertheless to a brush 36 provided with a spring and bearing against an arcuate contact member 3'! (Figure 4) which is carried in suitably insulated fashion by the plate 33. The contact member 31 does not extend over a complete circumference the shaft 28 of which extends through thin and may thus be constructed with great preand has an insulated gap 38 between its two extremities.

However, the said contact member 31 is electrically connected by a screw 39 to an insulated metal ring 4| surrounding the plate 33.

Two fixed brushes 42 and 43 are connected in an electric circuit so as to be in permanent contact with the rings 35 and 4|, said circuit comprising the winding of a relay, the armature of which is adapted to ensure the placing of the gas producer in suspension, that is to say out of operation. Such 'a relay is at present commonly employed in installations for the automatic control of gas producers and does not require to be particularly described.

The arrangement described in the foregoing operates in the following manner.

During the course of the first phase of one cycle (air blowing), the ordinary vapour injecting valve V is completely closed and the regulating arrangement is inoperative; however, the movable diaphragm I9 is turned in the direction of the arrow F (Figure 3). At the end of this phase of operation of the gas producer, the air blowing is stopped and the vapour injection valve V is fully opened; at this precise moment, the two apertures 2i and I"! are in positions whereby a maximum inlet area is offered by the arrangement to the vapour. In other words, the vapor injecting valve is opened only at the instant the openings I! and 2| provide the maximum opening.

However, the movable diaphragm I9 is still turning in the direction of the arrow F and covers a wide part of the aperture l1, while it frees a narrower part. The inlet section therefore diminishes progressively until the diaphragm l9 has carried out about half a revolution.

From this moment,'the inlet area remains substantially constant, since the diaphragm frees on one side approximately the same inlet area as it covers on the other side. Finally, after twothirds of a revolution the vapour admission valve closes in the ordinary way and the injection of vapour ceases. The air blow phase then takes place after which the steam admission valve reopens and another steam admission phase takes place under the control of the diaphragm I9.

It will be understood that by replacing the two diaphragms by others having apertures of different form from those shown in Figures 2 and 3, the injection of vapour may be regulated in accordance with any desired law.

If by accident the movable diaphragm I 9 stops, for example due to the breakage of the chain by which it is actuated, the plate 33 remains stationary, while the plate 32 continues to rotate.

As a result, the brush 36 is soon removed from contact with the contact member 31, the electric circuit is broken and the safety relay responds and'suspends the operating of the gas producer.

The modification shown in Figures 6 and 7 comprises a tubular body interposed between two elements of the delivery conduit for the injection vapour. The tubular body 45 forms the seat 48 of a valve 49 of conical form, which is provided with guide blades 5|.

The valve 49 is carried on the extremity of a rod 52 which traverses the tubular body 45 at right angles through a stufflng box 53 and which is connected by a link 54 to a rocker 55 pivoting about a fixedaxis 56.

The other extremity of the rocker 55 is provided with a roller 60 in permanent contact with a cam 5! continuously rotating at the rate of one revolution per cycle of operation of the gas protions of said apertures being identical and the reduced width portion of one diaphragm being longer than the corresponding portion of the other diaphragm, and the arcuate length of the aperture in one diaphragm being approximately 180 and that of the other diaphragm being approximately 240.

6, In a gas producer having an air blow steam run cycle, a conduit delivering steam to the producer during the steam run, a fixed diaphragm having an arcuate like aperture therein extending about but displaced outwardly from the center of the diaphragm for a major portion of the circumference thereof, the radial width of said aperture being constant for a portion of its extent, decreasing for a second portion of its extent,

and a constant radial width of the rest of its extent, a rotatable diaphragm juxtaposed against the fixed diaphragm, said rotatable diaphragm having an aperture therein similar to that of the fixed diaphragm but of less circumferential extent, and means for rotating said movable diaphragm from maximum register of the two apertures of the beginning of the steam run to and through a period of minimum constant register of the two apertures.

7. An apparatus for regulating the steam admission in a gas producer having an air blow steam injection cycle, comprising a steam admission conduit having a, valve therein arranged to be opened and closed at the beginning and end of the steam injection'phase, and another valve in said conduit including a first member having an opening therein through which steam can pass during the injection phase, a second member adjacent the opening in the first member, and means operated in timed relation to the first valve to move said second member relative to the opening in the first member so that said opening is at a maximum at the beginning of the steam injection phase and a minimum at the end of the steam injection phase.

CYRILLE ALFRED ALEXIS BAZILLEQ 

